Laser sintering system and method

Abstract

A laser sintering system and method for speeding up and reducing the cost of the build platen process also because of the interchangeability of the size in the build chamber which allows for greatly reduced cost of power materials that are required when loading the machine. The laser sintering system and method includes a build assembly including a build chamber base and a plate in communication with the build chamber base; and a wiper assembly including a planar member with opposed ends and movable bi-directionally upon the plate and having a material mover attached to the planar member.

I claim: 
     
       1. A laser sintering system comprising:
 (1) a build assembly including a build chamber base and a plate in communication with the build chamber base, wherein the build chamber base has a side wall and a chamber with an opening therein, wherein the plate has a top side and a bottom side with an aperture disposed laterally through the top and bottom sides in vertical alignment with the opening into the chamber, wherein the top side of the plate is slanted towards the aperture to facilitate movement of structural material; and 
 (2) a wiper assembly including a planar member movable bi-directionally upon the top side of the plate and a material mover attached to the planar member, wherein the planar member has a top side and a bottom side with openings spaced apart and disposed through the top and bottom sides of the planar member, wherein the openings include a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening disposed between the first and second openings, and wherein the material mover includes a plurality of wiper members attached to the bottom side of the planar member and bi-directionally movable upon the top side of the plate to move powder material deposited upon the top side of the plate. 
 
     
     
       2. The laser sintering system as described in  claim 1 , wherein the wiper members are disposed adjacent to the third opening with one of the wiper members having at least a portion disposed between the first opening and the third opening and with another of the wiper members having at least a portion disposed between the second opening and the third opening. 
     
     
       3. A laser sintering system comprising:
 (1) a build assembly including a build chamber base and a plate in communication with the build chamber base, wherein the build chamber base has a side wall and a chamber with an opening therein, wherein the plate has a top side and a bottom side with an aperture disposed laterally through the top and bottom sides in vertical alignment with the opening into the chamber, wherein the top side of the plate is slanted towards the aperture to facilitate movement of structural material; and 
 (2) a wiper assembly including a planar member movable bi-directionally upon the top side of the plate and a material mover attached to the planar member, wherein the planar member has a top side and a bottom side with first and second openings spaced apart and disposed through the top and bottom sides of the planar member, wherein the wiper assembly further includes first and second hollow transparent containers each having a bottom portion and an open bottom, wherein the first and second hollow transparent containers are interchangeably disposed upon the planar member, wherein the bottom portions of the first and second hollow transparent containers are removably retained in the first and second openings of the planar member, and wherein the first and second hollow transparent containers are configured to capture inert gases used in a laser sintering process.